Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[Sciencewoman]

Freshman year is a real stress inducer. I feel so bad for Hypo...she needed this time to relax and recoup. Tell her to hang in there! The light is at the end of the tunnel now!

Generallygreek gets initiated tomorrow morning! Joining a sorority has been a very positive experience for her. I hope Hypo is enjoying her new member period.

[AGDee]

She is loving her new member period. Initiation isn't until the weekend after Easter though. That reminds me, there is probably another payment due.

She's getting some homework done today, she said. She's on some heavy duty headache meds and when they wear off, she's miserable. If they hadn't done the CT scan, I'd be more nervous about it than I am. I feel bad for her though.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by AGDee

If they hadn't done the CT scan, I'd be more nervous about it than I am. I feel bad for her though.

Forgive me, as I haven't followed the details of her accident or symptoms closely. HOwever, as someone whose career was working with individuals who had suffered a brain injury, not all concussions or mild TBIs show up on the head CT. If she is having persistent headaches or any other neuro symptoms (difficulty sleeping, difficulty focusing, mood changes, appetite changes, nausea/vomiting, quicker to become frustrated/agitated, etc) I would be sure to mention that in all follow up appointments.

Hopefully everything is fine, but just wanted to clarify that as I have treated many individuals who couldn't understand why they were having symptoms when the HeadCT had been clear.

ETA: symptoms of mild TBI/single concussion may persist for up to 6 weeks. For most individuals symptoms will resolve completely during that time.

[AGDee]

Thanks. They did refer her to a neuorologist but she'll have to do that in NYC. She had been having trouble with headaches prior to the accident (she had one the day before and the day of the accident). They seem to be "monthly" but this was the worst one yet. It did have more symptoms of a migraine than anything else. They did the typical neuro screen too (pupils, balance, etc.). She was ok for several days after the accident, til this migraine hit. But, overall, headaches have increased in the last few months, especially at that time of the month.

[happilyanchored]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Thanks. They did refer her to a neuorologist but she'll have to do that in NYC. She had been having trouble with headaches prior to the accident (she had one the day before and the day of the accident). They seem to be "monthly" but this was the worst one yet. It did have more symptoms of a migraine than anything else. They did the typical neuro screen too (pupils, balance, etc.). She was ok for several days after the accident, til this migraine hit. But, overall, headaches have increased in the last few months, especially at that time of the month.

I had migraines when I was younger and they've been coming back this year. College and stress are honestly the worst thing for migraines. I feel for Hypo! Keeping her in my thoughts (the ones I have when my brain is functioning that is...haha)!

[Go Alpha Gam]

Hope things improve soon!!!

[AGDee]

So I went online to check Hypo in for her flight, pay for her baggage fee and print her boarding pass. I put in the confirmation number and it said there was no information available. I double checked the email I'd received and discovered that when I booked her flight, I scheduled her to go back to NYC last Sunday instead of tomorrow. OMG!!!!! I just paid $200 for her to fly home tomorrow on another airline.

[Sciencewoman]

OMG is right!

[AGDee]

Now that things are stabilizing a bit...

Hypo STILL has that headache and is going to health service today because she is almost out of prescription meds. She has been alternating ibuprofen and prescription meds to keep it under control but it has been a very rough week for her still. She has also withdrawn from a class, with my blessings. She got an email from the professor that was obviously sent to more than one student in the class saying that although they were still adjusting midterm grades, the people receiving the email were probably getting a "C" or below and since it was the last day to withdraw or switch to P/D/F (Pass/D/Fail), he wanted to let them know. Neither of her essays for that class are graded yet, but she was afraid to take a chance on possibly getting a D or failing. She went through that stress with two classes last term and ended up with B-'s in both, but she is already feeling really stressed with the headache and work load. It has been a tough semester for her.

She had taken on way too much back in February with two jobs, 16.5 credits, and recruitment/new member period starting. I told her at the time I was concerned she was doing too much and putting too much pressure on herself. With the dropped class, she still has 13.5 credits. Since she withdrew, she can take that class again. If she had done P/D/F, she couldn't. ALL of her classes have multiple books to read (one a week for two of the classes) and many essays this term. She was supposed to read three novels over spring break which typically wouldn't be a problem but between the accident and the headache, she couldn't get it all done. We did pick up the Spark Notes for two of them so she could at least look at those. All of her classes also have separate lectures and lab/discussion sections, all of which have separate assignments. It was a bad mix of courses, I think. I can't tell you how many times I have seen her posting on Twitter that she was pulling an all nighter. Her schedule was such that she didn't have any time to eat lunch 4 days a week because she was in class/work from 9 am- 3:45 pm straight two days and 11:00-4:55 the other two days.

She's still sort of working two jobs but her campus job is only 10 hours a week and she has a weekly Friday or Saturday night babysitting job for a couple on the upper east side who pay her very well to have a date night for themselves. The kids are very young so they go to bed early and she can actually catch up on reading for school during that time, so it's good.

She was in tears about this yesterday and I tried my best to reassure her from afar. She will take a class locally this summer, I think, to make up a few credits. She talked to her adviser yesterday who told her they accept credits from community colleges as long as they are accredited so that seems like a good option. She is feeling like a failure and that is heart breaking to a mom. I told her that this allows to just focus on the classes she still has and really kick butt in them.

On the plus side... "Big/little" week starts Monday and her Big has created a tumblr about how excited she is to be Hypo's Big. It's so funny and cute and it has Hypo very excited for the week. This tumblr basically talks about how awesome Hypo is. That's helping her psyche a bit

I got to spend a lot of time with Hypo's boyfriend over spring break and I really, really like him a lot. He obviously cares about her a LOT. They share so many interests and he has a great sense of humor. He has a real enthusiasm for life. They are so young, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is "the one" for her. He treats her so well. He graduates from U of Michigan next April and is planning to look for jobs in NYC so he can be close to her. She did tell me over spring break that she wants to stay in NYC after graduation. That is no surprise to me. I knew that would happen. Her boyfriend found out yesterday that he got an internship with one of the longest sitting members of Congress (from Michigan) and he is VERY excited. It's a great opportunity for him.

I let him sleep on our couch the night before she left and he came to the airport with me to drop her off. As we drove off, he had tears in his eyes. Adele's "Someone Like You" came on the radio and he said "I don't think this is a good time for that song to come on." I said "You're right" and changed the radio station. We found a more upbeat song. Since we had gotten up at 3:30 am to take her to the airport, I suggested he sleep a bit before driving back to Ann Arbor and he did. Her dad needs to get over his issues because this is a really nice guy who treats her great and has high aspirations in life.

In the meantime, I'm trying hard to hold her up from afar. I'm really worried about a migraine that has lasted almost two weeks now. I'm hoping that one less class helps her destress some. She's still figuring it all out... going from barely having to do anything to get A's to being in such a competitive and demanding environment.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Now that things are stabilizing a bit...

Hypo STILL has that headache and is going to health service today because she is almost out of prescription meds. She has been alternating ibuprofen and prescription meds to keep it under control but it has been a very rough week for her still. She has also withdrawn from a class, with my blessings. She got an email from the professor that was obviously sent to more than one student in the class saying that although they were still adjusting midterm grades, the people receiving the email were probably getting a "C" or below and since it was the last day to withdraw or switch to P/D/F (Pass/D/Fail), he wanted to let them know. Neither of her essays for that class are graded yet, but she was afraid to take a chance on possibly getting a D or failing. She went through that stress with two classes last term and ended up with B-'s in both, but she is already feeling really stressed with the headache and work load. It has been a tough semester for her.

She had taken on way too much back in February with two jobs, 16.5 credits, and recruitment/new member period starting. I told her at the time I was concerned she was doing too much and putting too much pressure on herself. With the dropped class, she still has 13.5 credits. Since she withdrew, she can take that class again. If she had done P/D/F, she couldn't. ALL of her classes have multiple books to read (one a week for two of the classes) and many essays this term. She was supposed to read three novels over spring break which typically wouldn't be a problem but between the accident and the headache, she couldn't get it all done. We did pick up the Spark Notes for two of them so she could at least look at those. All of her classes also have separate lectures and lab/discussion sections, all of which have separate assignments. It was a bad mix of courses, I think. I can't tell you how many times I have seen her posting on Twitter that she was pulling an all nighter. Her schedule was such that she didn't have any time to eat lunch 4 days a week because she was in class/work from 9 am- 3:45 pm straight two days and 11:00-4:55 the other two days.

She's still sort of working two jobs but her campus job is only 10 hours a week and she has a weekly Friday or Saturday night babysitting job for a couple on the upper east side who pay her very well to have a date night for themselves. The kids are very young so they go to bed early and she can actually catch up on reading for school during that time, so it's good.

She was in tears about this yesterday and I tried my best to reassure her from afar. She will take a class locally this summer, I think, to make up a few credits. She talked to her adviser yesterday who told her they accept credits from community colleges as long as they are accredited so that seems like a good option. She is feeling like a failure and that is heart breaking to a mom. I told her that this allows to just focus on the classes she still has and really kick butt in them.

On the plus side... "Big/little" week starts Monday and her Big has created a tumblr about how excited she is to be Hypo's Big. It's so funny and cute and it has Hypo very excited for the week. This tumblr basically talks about how awesome Hypo is. That's helping her psyche a bit

I got to spend a lot of time with Hypo's boyfriend over spring break and I really, really like him a lot. He obviously cares about her a LOT. They share so many interests and he has a great sense of humor. He has a real enthusiasm for life. They are so young, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is "the one" for her. He treats her so well. He graduates from U of Michigan next April and is planning to look for jobs in NYC so he can be close to her. She did tell me over spring break that she wants to stay in NYC after graduation. That is no surprise to me. I knew that would happen. Her boyfriend found out yesterday that he got an internship with one of the longest sitting members of Congress (from Michigan) and he is VERY excited. It's a great opportunity for him.

I let him sleep on our couch the night before she left and he came to the airport with me to drop her off. As we drove off, he had tears in his eyes. Adele's "Someone Like You" came on the radio and he said "I don't think this is a good time for that song to come on." I said "You're right" and changed the radio station. We found a more upbeat song. Since we had gotten up at 3:30 am to take her to the airport, I suggested he sleep a bit before driving back to Ann Arbor and he did. Her dad needs to get over his issues because this is a really nice guy who treats her great and has high aspirations in life.

In the meantime, I'm trying hard to hold her up from afar. I'm really worried about a migraine that has lasted almost two weeks now. I'm hoping that one less class helps her destress some. She's still figuring it all out... going from barely having to do anything to get A's to being in such a competitive and demanding environment.

Does she need anything? It sounds like its a lot of stress under normal circumstances.

[AGDee]

We'll see what health services says/does about the headache. That's my biggest concern. I'm glad they did a CT scan at ER when she was home so my head isn't going crazy with "It's a tumor" or something.

Hopefully one less class to worry about will ease her stress up.... with the excitement of Big/Little week and Initiation coming up

[AGDee]

She thinks health service is sending her to ER. Oh crap.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

She thinks health service is sending her to ER. Oh crap.

Columbia sends kids to the hospital when it's not run of the mill health clinic stuff. The er is right across the street. Asthma attacks, allergy attacks, that sort of thing that most colleges can treat in the infirmary Columbia takes to the ER. It may not be as bad as it sounds. The tough thing is that it's really an inner city hospital.

[AZTheta]

Dee - I've had migraines since age 11. The worst one started like Hypo's (hormonal) and went on for ten days. She is in my thoughts and prayers, as are you. It's just so seriously scary when it's happening.

[FSUZeta]

Please let us know when you know something. With kids who attended college 12 hours away, I know how hard it is to try to deal with health issues from a distance and if i could, I would buy you a coffee and sit with you while you wait to hear from your daughter.